Research Materials Engineer, AST, Aerospace Materials

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Egg Harbor Township (NJ); In loco; USD 90.000 - 150.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

NASA in New Jersey seeks a Research Material Engineer (AST) to lead computational and experimental studies on process-intensive metallic materials. You will develop predictive models, calibrate simulations with NDE data, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance material reliability and safety for aerospace applications.

Responsibilities include presenting findings to stakeholders and advancing NASA’s mission through rigorous research and knowledge dissemination.

Competenze

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science with ABET or equivalent accreditation.
• Graduate degree in AST or related field may substitute for education requirements.
• Experience in computational materials modeling and testing is preferred.

Mansioni

• Conduct computational modeling of process-structure-property relationships for aerospace materials.
• Develop methods to predict damage tolerance and life of process-intensive metallic materials.
• Process and interpret high-fidelity nondestructive evaluation data to define damage evolution.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to advance computational materials research.
• Prepare technical reports and communicate findings to stakeholders.

Conoscenze

Computational materials modeling

Damage tolerance methods

Nondestructive evaluation data

Data analysis

Materials science collaboration

Scientific communication

Formazione

Engineering/Physical Science/Math/CS degree with relevant coursework

Graduate degree in AST or related field

Descrizione del lavoro

Summary

As a Research Material Engineer, AST, Aerospace Materials in the Durability, Damage Tolerance, and Reliability Branch, you will lead computational and experimental studies on Process-Intensive Metallic Materials, develop models to predict material behavior, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and communicate research findings to advance material performance, reliability, and safety for aerospace applications.

Duties

• Conduct computational modeling of advanced materials for aerospace applications, including metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and coatings.
• Develop predictive frameworks for material behavior, integrating empirical, theoretical, and numerical approaches to advance computational materials science for aerospace materials.
• Design, execute, and process data from experiments to calibrate and validate models and characterize Process-Intensive Metallic Materials (e.g., processed using Laser Powder Bed Fusion) supporting reliability and durability research.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and mature computational materials research as the foundation for engineering solutions across diverse aerospace structures and systems.
• Interpret and implement the results of testing, nondestructive evaluation and high-fidelity metrology to calibrate and validate computational materials simulations of the properties and performance of materials in aeronautical and space environments.
• Innovate and implement new computational and experimental methods for material characterization, properties and performance assessment.
• Manage technical aspects of contracted research, ensuring compliance with NASA standards and project requirements.
• Prepare and present technical reports and research findings to stakeholders, advancing NASA’s mission through knowledge dissemination.

Conditions of employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. See Additional Information section
• Current Federal employees must meet qualifications, time in grade, and 90 days after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above.

NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA’s unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.

To qualify for GS-13

• Conducting computational materials modeling of process-structure-property/performance (PSP/P) relationships for Process-Intensive Metallic Materials for aerospace applications;
• Developing or applying methods for predicting the damage tolerance and life of aerospace Process-Intensive Metallic Materials;
• Processing and interpreting high-fidelity nondestructive evaluation data of Process-Intensive Metallic Materials to define the initial damage and track damage evolution state for analyses.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

Education

This position requires education or exceptional experience.

Basic Education Requirement

You must have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree with a major in one of the following:

• Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
• Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science
• Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus, and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Applicants who do not fully meet the basic education requirement may still be considered if they possess exceptional relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience, that clearly demonstrates significant full performance-level achievement directly related to the duties of this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States

Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org.

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.

Science and other related degrees earned within the United States

Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you are a current federal employee, you must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible for this position. To be eligible, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in a position no more than 1 grade lower than the advertised position. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. If your eligibility for both merit promotion and/or time-in-grade cannot be determined, your application will be rated ineligible.)

CTAP/ICTAP eligibility

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
• be well qualified for this position to receive consideration. Candidates rated in the 'Best Qualified' category are considered well-qualified. Please see 'How You Will Be Evaluated' for more information.
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'.

Qualified NASA term employees who have term conversion eligibility (Term Appointments | NASA) under the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004 will be referred and considered equally with other NASA permanent employees under internal competitive placement procedures.

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within the last five years based on the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date.

Per Executive Order 14343

This position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.